How I successfully used suboxone.

[Bigdogg207]

I have been addicted to opiates in one form or another for over 4 years, the past 6 Months I have been using between 70-100 MG of hydro every day. I have tried stopping cold turkey in the past, and can never make it past 3 days before caving due to withdrawl (horrible restless legs, insomnia, upset stomach, chills, etc.). I have tried quitting with suboxone in the past only to find myself becoming physically addicted to the suboxone and switching back to opiates (hydro or oxy) to deal with those withdrawls...it'd been a never ending cycle and I've felt very helpless. I have now been off of any sort of opiate for 7 days now, and off of suboxone for 3 days and have zero wd symptoms besides feeling just a little low on energy. The way this happened was completely unplanned and I have no idea why this method worked for me, but it did.. here's what happened.

-My last dose of hydrocodone was on a Friday afternoon (50 mg).

- Saturday and Sunday I used no opiates or suboxone and let myself go through wd for 48 hours. It sucked really bad, but I stuck it oout. I watched a lot of tv and layed in bed...but I also made myself go outside every few hours to Walk around, took hot showers...also drank plenty of water and sports drinks and forced myself to eat.

-Monday : I had been in cold turkey wd for over 48 hours and had to go to work. I work a very pysically demanding costruction job, so there was no way I could go In during cold turkey wd. I toughed it out for half the day, and when I could barely stand it anymore I took 4 mg of the suboxone. RELIEF. the 4mg kicked In and the wd symptoms subsided. I know 4mg is not a huge dose, but it was enough to take the wd away and get through the day at work. Got my first night of good sleep as well.

-Tuesday: went to work the next day, still no unmanageable wd symptoms, but I could feel them starting to come o again. Once again waited till 12 pm to take another dose of suboxone, and took a 2 mg dose. Felt fine all day and got another great night sleep.

-Wednesday: woke up feeling fine and went to work. Took 1 mg of suboxone at noon time. Made it through work, and got a decent night sleep.

-Thursday: first day off of suboxone. Completely sober. (I know there is still suboxone in my system at this pointo due to the long halflife). I felt a little sluggish and not at 100%. Tougher it out through work, and got a decent night sleep. I continued to drink lots of fluids and make sure to eat good foods throuout the day.

-Friday: 2nd day with no suboxone dose. Don't feel great, but also don't feel horrible. Am able to work (keep in mind I work labor, so if I can make it through that than I am obviously not dope sick). Get another decent night sleep.

-Saturday: today is my 3rd day with no suboxone dose and it's been over a week since I have taken a full agonist opiate! I have no work today so I am just taking it easy and recuperating from the past week. I honestly feel pretty good! I feel a little tired and not like my normal self, but I don't feel horrible, I am comfortable! I can sleep, and I am suffering no real wd symptoms.


I think that making myself suffer for those 2 initial days of cold turkey wd, along with the low doses of suboxone for only 3 days is the combination that works! Along with my work, the fact that I was outside forcing myself to move around and lifting objects which is basically like exercising. When I used sub in the past it was for a long period of time at very high doses so I felt great while I was on it (basically felt high), but then inevitably got caught by wd when I wanted to stop. Where as this time I took just enough to be comfortable enough to work and sleep ok. This is the longest I've gone without an opiate or sub in years, and I can't believe how good I feel. I don't even feel good, I just feel ok..but it feels like a victory! I know I'm not out of the woods, but just feeling 'ok' at this point feels like a miracle to me.

My advice for people teying to quit using with suboxone is keep your doses low, and time using short. Use the sub as an aid to just take the edge off...don't take so much that you are feeling amazing and or feeling high. I can't believe that doctors prescribe this drug at doses of 16-32 mg to people and keep them on it for years..

I Will check back in and let everyone know how my progress goes.

 

[nygiants1313]

How has your sleep been? I find I suffer from sever insomnia no matter how physically tired I am. When I cold turkey'd IV dope I was still sleeping 2-3 hours maybe 4 but very broken each night. Waking up feeling as I hadnt slept with horrible stiffness and RSL and diareah and depression made me go back.

This is is where the real journey begins. People tend to say being sick is the easy part and and staying clean is harder and it's true. If you have the ability to lay in bed for weeks at a time then it's easy to get through the sickness. People do it in jail all day everyday and immediately use the second they come out

I don't want to shyt on your parade because what you achieved is AMAZINGGGG don't get me wrong. Air high five. But in due time the cravings will come hard. Addiction will make you think you can use here and there and keep it under control. Addiction will make you believe you can kick it at anytime and "one more time won't hurt." Addiction will start coming into your mind after a bad day of work out during the down times. You'll eventually think "I'm clean why isn't life amazing..." And crave it again. Addiction will have you literally dreaming of opiates in your sleep and ull wake up all fucking out of wack.

But positive thinking can defeat negative thoughts. And every day is an accomplishment. Lift weights, run, have lots of sex, understand why you may think at certain times. Let's say going bowling on the fun scale is 7/10 but we all know going Bowling on opiates is better and would make it a 50/10. This is true but you just have to accept you'll never feel that 50/10 again and enjoy the 7/10 while having money, not be sick, and all the benefits of not being an opiate addict.

Its a a long journey and like I said I didn't want to scare you and maybe what I said won't happen to you but there is a reason what 98% continue to relapse. If it was easy drug rehabs would die out from never having returning addicts.

You can do it, but you won't be able to do it alone. I'd suggest something whether it be meetings just to relate to people who have been through The same thing as most people/therapists have not been through it so they really can't understand what your going through. Volunteer work, exercise, anything to make you feel good. It'll be work but you can do it.

PM me if you ever wanna chat, vent, ask for advice, or just bullshit and compare stories.

Peace

 

[Phil.McKeer]

You did it right, bro. I've always advocated buprenorphine as a drug that is suited for a rapid taper, not long term ORT (methadone is better suited for that). Well done on tapering yourself down. You're not out of the woods, but most of the discomfort from here on out will be mental cravings and maybe some ultra-sensititivity to temperature changes.

You did it the right way. Congrats. I wish more people would use buprenorphine as a rapid taper rather than get on ungodly doses of 16-24mg's/day for years.